We talk with Lindsay Aguilar about how Building Strong Brains brings more than 80 partners together to help more children enter kindergarten ready to learn. We get specific about the no-wrong-door approach, what readiness really means, and how the summer Countdown to Kindergarten program removes barriers for working families.

• Lindsay’s path from youth development to leading a countywide early childhood coalition
• Why systems change helps community foundations and nonprofits move the needle
• No-wrong-door support that reduces “door knocking” for parents
• Coalition structure with action teams focused on health, community supports, and quality early learning environments
• Funding through the Community Foundation of Elkhart County and investments from community partners
• What kindergarten readiness measures and why it predicts long-term outcomes
• Countdown to Kindergarten’s growth from a small pilot to serving more than 300 children
• Removing barriers through transportation, meals, before- and after-care, and bilingual instruction
• Adjacent challenges such as hunger, housing, and transportation that can derail progress
• How family voice stays at the center so decisions remain grounded in real needs

Learn more about the Community Foundation of Elkhart County at inspiringgood.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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This show is a production of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. It is powered by equipment from Sweetwater and recorded in The Riverbend building in Elkhart's River District. Editing is done by the award-winning communication students at Goshen College, home of one of the best college radio stations in the nation. Listen to Globe Radio at 91.1 FM. Learn more about the Community Foundation of Elkhart County at inspiringgood.org You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Music is provided by Sensational Sounds. Thanks for listening. We hope you are inspired and inspire good and your community.

We talk with Jim Conklin of Cultivate Food Rescue about why hunger keeps showing up even when our food system produces massive excess. We trace how a local, logistics-first model rescues perishable food, turns it into real meals, and helps communities aim for near zero hunger.
• Cultivate’s pivot from culinary school roots to perishable food rescue
• How food waste and food insecurity intersect across the supply chain
• Transportation as the biggest barrier to getting food to people
• Hunger Ends Here as a collaboration model for funders, distributors, and pantries
• Rural vs urban food insecurity and why logistics differ by place
• The difference between a food bank and a food pantry
• How rescued food becomes frozen backpack meals for kids
• Why chef-made meals and better nutrition change long-term outcomes
• Hypergrowth challenges in a nonprofit without a clear template
• Leadership advice about thinking beyond constraints and building strong teams
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You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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This show is a production of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. It is powered by equipment from Sweetwater and recorded in The Riverbend building in Elkhart's River District. Editing is done by the award-winning communication students at Goshen College, home of one of the best college radio stations in the nation. Listen to Globe Radio at 91.1 FM. Learn more about the Community Foundation of Elkhart County at inspiringgood.org You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Music is provided by Sensational Sounds. Thanks for listening. We hope you are inspired and inspire good and your community.

We sit down with Maggie Okponobi of Owls Club and get specific about how a senior community can fight loneliness with daily connection, learning, and a place to belong. We also trace Maggie’s path from teaching to Peace Corps service to nonprofit leadership, and why she believes our community is stronger when we truly notice older adults.
• Owls Club’s mission for adults 55+ and why “active” matters
• Loneliness after retirement and the loss of identity and routine
• How the monthly calendar works and why “stay and linger” builds friends
• Lifelong learning led by members and the value of curiosity
• The founding story at Trinity and what fueled rapid growth
• No membership fee model and how diversified nonprofit funding supports it
• Volunteer power at scale and why it keeps costs low
• Peace Corps service in Gambia and the long view of resilience
• Senior barriers like grief, fear of showing up, and losing peer groups
• Owls Connect, tech support, and reaching shut-ins with care
You can go to Owls Club's website at owlsclub.org. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

This show is a production of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. It is powered by equipment from Sweetwater and recorded in The Riverbend building in Elkhart's River District. Editing is done by the award-winning communication students at Goshen College, home of one of the best college radio stations in the nation. Listen to Globe Radio at 91.1 FM. Learn more about the Community Foundation of Elkhart County at inspiringgood.org You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Music is provided by Sensational Sounds. Thanks for listening. We hope you are inspired and inspire good and your community.